The Gospel reading invites us to focus on whether we make use of what God has given us. It's about the master who entrusts his slaves with property. One was given five talents (unit of currency), another two, and another one. The slaves who had the five and two talents did some trading and doubled what they had. However, the slave with only one talent went and buried it in the ground. It is this last slave who gets reprimanded for not trading!
We might realize that we have gifts but not use them. On the other hand, we might feel we don't really have anything to give to the church or to the world. In either case, we are falling short of what Jesus expects of us.
Therefore, I believe it is important to look at how we use our time and the talents (here, gifts) God has given us. We also need to see that how we use our money will also matter to our Lord.
In preparation for Sunday's worship, you can read this parable in Matthew 25:14-30. You can pray about your own sense of stewardship and how God might want you to grow.
Discipleship Questions for Reflection
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate yourself in terms of how you are managing what God has given you?
Where do you see there is room for growth? What steps will you take to move forward?